Radiology/Imaging: Appointments
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What to expect when you meet with the radiology/imaging team
Your first appointment at CTCA at Eastern Regional Medical Center (Eastern) will be with a medical oncologist for a consultation and evaluation. Your medical oncologist will coordinate your meetings with the other clinical departments, including the Department of Radiology/Imaging.
The department is located on the first floor of the hospital. In your first visit with the radiology team, you will receive a series of diagnostic tests. This appointment will usually take place on the second day of your initial evaluation period.
Your CTCA care team will use the results from your diagnostic tests, along with any previous test results, to build a personalized treatment plan for you.
Since each cancer type requires a different approach, your treatment plan will be based on your unique needs and treatment goals. Some common treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.
Turnaround time and comfort for imaging tests
We understand how important it is for you to get through your tests comfortably, and to get your results back as quickly as possible. At Eastern, you will experience prompt turnaround times and compassionate, supportive care.
You will typically receive your preliminary results for most imaging tests within four to five hours. And, you will usually get MRI and PET/CT results back within a day. Not only do our efficient turnaround times help ease the anxiety of having to wait for tests and results, it also helps you begin treatments more quickly.
Your test results are immediately followed by a meeting with you to jointly determine an optimal treatment plan based on your unique needs. Here, you can come in, get a MRI, and also get treatment that same day.
We also understand that imaging equipment can be hard and uncomfortable. Eastern’s radiology team uses padding and comfort equipment, as well as a variety of positioning devices, to help you feel more relaxed and comfortable during procedures. On average, the time you will spend on an imaging table being scanned for a test is about 25 minutes.
At Eastern, we understand that scheduling delays or long waits for test results are unnecessary, distracting and stressful. The hospital continues to refine and improve its process to make them even more efficient.
